C Boolean Examples

Welcome to The Coding College! In this post, we’ll explore practical examples of using Booleans in C programming. Booleans are essential for handling logic, decision-making, and controlling program flow. Although C doesn’t have a native Boolean type, you can achieve Boolean functionality using integers or the _Bool type provided in <stdbool.h>.

What Are Booleans in C?

A Boolean is a data type that represents truth values:

  • 0 (false)
  • Non-zero (true)

While older versions of C rely on integers for Booleans, C99 introduced <stdbool.h> to provide a standard _Bool type and the keywords true and false.

Simple Boolean Examples

Example 1: Using Integers as Booleans

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int isTrue = 1;  // Represents true
    int isFalse = 0; // Represents false

    if (isTrue) {
        printf("This is true.\n");
    }
    if (!isFalse) {
        printf("This is also true.\n");
    }

    return 0;
}

Output:

This is true.  
This is also true.

Example 2: Using <stdbool.h> for Clarity

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdbool.h>

int main() {
    bool isTrue = true;
    bool isFalse = false;

    if (isTrue) {
        printf("Boolean is true.\n");
    }
    if (!isFalse) {
        printf("Boolean is false.\n");
    }

    return 0;
}

Output:

Boolean is true.  
Boolean is false.

Real-World Applications

Example 3: Boolean in Conditional Statements

Booleans simplify decision-making in if statements.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdbool.h>

int main() {
    int age = 25;
    bool isAdult = (age >= 18);

    if (isAdult) {
        printf("You are an adult.\n");
    } else {
        printf("You are not an adult.\n");
    }

    return 0;
}

Output:

You are an adult.

Example 4: Boolean in Loops

Booleans are commonly used to control loops.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdbool.h>

int main() {
    bool keepRunning = true;
    int count = 0;

    while (keepRunning) {
        printf("Counter: %d\n", count++);
        if (count == 5) {
            keepRunning = false; // Stop the loop
        }
    }

    return 0;
}

Output:

Counter: 0  
Counter: 1  
Counter: 2  
Counter: 3  
Counter: 4

Example 5: Combining Multiple Booleans

Booleans can be combined using logical operators (&&, ||, !).

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdbool.h>

int main() {
    bool condition1 = true;
    bool condition2 = false;

    if (condition1 && !condition2) {
        printf("Condition 1 is true, and Condition 2 is false.\n");
    }

    if (condition1 || condition2) {
        printf("At least one condition is true.\n");
    }

    return 0;
}

Output:

Condition 1 is true, and Condition 2 is false.  
At least one condition is true.

Example 6: Boolean Functions

Functions can return Booleans to indicate success or failure.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdbool.h>

bool isEven(int number) {
    return (number % 2 == 0);
}

int main() {
    int num = 4;

    if (isEven(num)) {
        printf("%d is even.\n", num);
    } else {
        printf("%d is odd.\n", num);
    }

    return 0;
}

Output:

4 is even.

Example 7: Boolean Arrays

Booleans can also be stored in arrays for logical operations.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdbool.h>

int main() {
    bool flags[3] = {true, false, true};

    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
        printf("Flag %d: %s\n", i, flags[i] ? "true" : "false");
    }

    return 0;
}

Output:

Flag 0: true  
Flag 1: false  
Flag 2: true

Key Takeaways

  1. Boolean Basics: In C, 0 is false, and non-zero values represent true.
  2. Readability with <stdbool.h>: Use true and false for better clarity and readability.
  3. Logical Operations: Combine Booleans with logical operators like && (AND), || (OR), and ! (NOT).
  4. Versatile Applications: Use Booleans for conditions, loops, and function returns.
  5. Practical Implementation: Always write clean and readable Boolean expressions to avoid confusion.

Learn More

Mastering Booleans is just the beginning! Explore more programming tutorials on The Coding College to enhance your coding expertise. Stay tuned for more examples and real-world coding solutions!

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